Acclaimed Keyboardist David Garfield Releases 'Holidays Outside the Box'
David Garfield’s Holidays Outside The Box, (Creatchy Records), is an ongoing international collaboration that merges the diverse cultures of our world into one celebratory musical experience. Produced and arranged by the multi-talented keyboardist, his latest Outside The Box project mixes contemporary seasonal favorites with traditional songs, including a fresh arrangement of a Chanukah classic. Reimagined in five languages with an all-star cast, performers include members of Chicago, Pablo Cruise, Santana, Yellowjackets, War, Jimmy Buffet’s Coral Reefer Band, Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers and The Rippingtons. Some of the final recordings were done virtually between the USA and Europe during the midst of the pandemic.
"When I envisioned this Holiday CD I was thinking of how I could promote peace, spread love, & bring the people of this world we’re all living in together” says Garfield. “Having traveled the world from top to bottom, I was blessed with so many musical friends to collaborate with on this project of global unity.”
Holidays Outside The Box kicks off with “Silent Night,” Garfield’s gospel arrangement spotlighting Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Ernie Watts and singers Mike Finnigan (Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt) and Amy Keys (Phil Collins, Herbie Hancock, Barbara Streisand, Ringo Starr). Mixed by multi-platinum Grammy-winner Mick Guzauski, the track includes Paul Jackson Jr. on guitar and Steve Ferrone, the drummer from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers.
Garfield puts a sultry, festive spin on the timeless “Let It Snow.” This instantly engaging track helps make the season bright via newcomer Jo Nagle’s silky soul vocals, a fiery improvisational solo by Yellowjackets’ saxophonist Bob Mintzer and Garfield’s own vibrant Fender Rhodes jam.
A special highlight from this genre-transcendent collection is “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah.” Garfield and Jewish pop star Sam Glaser’s collaboration takes a traditional favorite and gives it a modern Reggae/Soul treatment. The track features Lee Oskar, an original member of the group War, on harmonica, Israeli-born guitar sensation Oz Noy, and Heartbreakers’ drummer, Steve Ferrone.
Holidays Outside The Box also includes a world music rendition of the traditional Polish carol “Jezus Malusieńki” (“Baby Jesus is Crying”). At the request of Sony Music Poland, Garfield rearranged and recorded the track in an Afro-Cuban style with some of Cuba’s greatest young talents, along with Neil Diamond’s horn section. “Sleigh Ride” was arranged by steel drum legend Robert Greenidge and Garfield, while “The 12 Days of Christmas” features vocals from Vince Charles, a longtime member of Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass and Neil Diamond's band.
